Profile element connecting a vehicle pane to a water draining chamber

ABSTRACT

A profile element for connecting a vehicle pane to a water draining chamber includes a U-shaped snap-in recess formed by a bearing rib and a resilient leg disposed below the bearing rib. At an entrance into the snap-in recess, the bearing rib protrudes downward towards the resilient leg and the resilient leg protrudes upward towards the bearing rib so as to define an engagement aperture into the snap-in recess between an upper-most part of the protrusion of the resilient leg and a lower-most part of the protrusion of the bearing rib. A detent element is disposed in the snap-in recess behind the engagement aperture in an insertion direction of a rib of the water draining chamber.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.12/993,876, filed Dec. 17, 2010, which is a U.S. National Phaseapplication under 35 U.S.C. §371 of International Application No.PCT/EP2009/003143, filed on Apr. 30, 2009, and claims benefit to GermanPatent Application No. DE 20 2008 006 986.6, filed on May 23, 2008. TheInternational Application was published in German on Nov. 26, 2009 as WO2009/141049 under PCT Article 21(2).

FIELD

The present invention relates to a profile element connecting a motorvehicle pane to a water draining chamber.

BACKGROUND

A water draining chamber is used in motor vehicles underneath thevehicle pane for instance the windshield, said box collecting water fromsaid pane and draining it sideways. Illustratively an extruded profileelement or contoured extrusion molded element is used to affix the waterdraining chamber to and seal it against the lower edge of the pane andfurthermore is fitted with a snap-in groove to detachably receive saidbox.

To preclude forming an offset or an edge in the transition zone betweenthe pane surface and the profile element, the published German patentdocument DE 200 08 555 U1 discloses a design for sealing vehicle panesand including a cross-sectionally hooked profile element which is bondedto the lower edge of the vehicle pane. Said profile element comprises aresilient leg which, together with a ribbed wedge, constitutes anoutwardly open snap-in seat. Said snap-in seat receives the waterdraining chamber which is fitted on its back side with a detent rib. Asealing lip is fitted onto the ribbed wedge and may be fitted betweenthe lower pane edge and the upper edge of the water draining chamber'slid and in its assembled position ends flush with the external surfacesof water draining chamber and vehicle pane. A buffer strip made of asofter material is configured below the snap-in groove and allowsresting the seal against the vehicle body.

The profile element must be supported by the vehicle body because a highresistance must be overcome when the water draining chamber is insertedperpendicularly to the pane surface into the profile element. In turnsaid resistance is required to always reliably affix the water drainingchamber to said element, that is, in order not to accidentally comingloose when in motion on the road or on account of other mechanical orthermal loads. On the other hand maintenance frequently entailsdetaching the water draining chamber from the vehicle pane andreassembling it for instance when changing a filter.

However relatively high forces are always encountered when installingthe water draining chamber and they directly act on the adhesive bondbetween the profile element and the vehicle pane. In the absence of thecontoured body resting on the vehicle body or absent per se from such abody, there is danger of the installation stresses detaching the profileelement from the vehicle pane.

The profile elements of the state of the art moreover incur the furtherdrawback that resting on the vehicle body may entail annoying noises,especially so when the highly compliant support elements lose theirelasticity with time.

SUMMARY

Accordingly it is the objective of the present invention to overcome thedrawbacks of the state of the art and to create a profile element whichlinks a vehicle pane to a water draining chamber and which may bemanufactured economically using simple means while also allowing simple,rapid water draining chamber installation without thereby stressing theconnection between the profile element and the vehicle pane.Nevertheless the water draining chamber shall be durably affixed to theprofile element and withstand even larger loads in problem-free manner.

As regards a profile element which connects a vehicle pane and a waterdraining chamber and which comprises a first segment affixable to saidpane, further a second segment subtending a snap-in recess designed todetachably affix the water draining chamber, said box being fitted witha rib affixable in frictionally locking and/or geometricallyinterlocking manner into said snap-in recess, moreover at least one sealwhich can be inserted between the vehicle pane's lower edge and thewater draining chamber's upper edge and which constitutes, in theinstalled state of the water draining chamber, a substantially smoothtransition where the adjoining surfaces are mutually flush, the presentinvention calls for at least one detent element that is designed to easeinserting the water draining chamber's rib into the snap-in recess in afirst direction whereas extracting the rib from the snap-in recess inthe opposite direction is made more difficult.

This design allows installing the water draining chamber easily andquickly because its rib—compared to conventional profile elements—can beinserted at substantially less resistance respectively with much lessforce into the associated snap-in recess. Accordingly much smallerforces will act on the profile element and on its bond to the vehiclepane, and consequently said profile element cannot unintentionallydetach from said pane, not even after installing and dismantling thewater draining chamber repeatedly. Furthermore a complex support of theprofile element by the vehicle body is not required, this featureadvantageously affecting manufacturing and installation costs. Clatterand the like no longer may arise when there is relative displacementbetween the profile element and the vehicle body.

On the other hand, extracting the rib requires a much larger force inthe design of the present invention of said detent element, and as aresult, following its installation, the water draining chamber shallalways be firmly affixed to said profile element. The water drainingchamber even when subjected to considerable mechanical and thermalstresses is unable to detach off the profile element or even from thevehicle, so that high operational reliability is assured. The system asa whole offers a simple design and is unusually dimensionally stable.

Advantageously, when controlling the forces of insertion and extraction,the respectively each detent element is configured at an angle to thedirection of mating. Illustratively, a slight sideways bending orpressure may be applied when inserting the water draining chamber's ribinto the snap-in recess, whereas, when removing said box, the rib firstmust ram the detent element before latter will release it.

On account of the angular position of the detent element relative to thedirection of installation, the, respectively each, detent elementconstitutes a barb for the rib inserted into the water drainingchamber's snap-in recess, as a result of which said box can be detachedoff the profile element only after overcoming the barb's resistance byapplying a predetermined force, illustratively for the purpose ofmaintaining or replacing components situated underneath. On the otherhand, the resistance presented by the barb encountered when insertingthe rib into the snap-in recess is relatively easily overcome and as aresult the profile element and its bond to the vehicle pane are hardlystressed.

Advantageously too the, respectively each, detent element shall be atleast partly elastically deformable. Such a detent element will yieldrelatively easily when inserting the rib into the snap-in recess,whereas making it quite difficult for the detent element to move out ofthe way when extracting the rib from the profile element in spite ofsaid elasticity, for instance because the detent element perforce beingrammed before releasing the rib. The barb operation may be enhanced byfitting the, respectively each, snap-in recess at its free lengthwiseedge with a convex or beaked edge which, depending on design, rests onthe water draining chamber's rib and/or on the profile element.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the, respectively each,detent element is configured within the snap-in recess and can be madeto engage frictionally and/or in a geometrically interlocking mannerwith the water draining chamber's rib. This design allows very differentembodiment modes. Illustratively the detent element may be mounted, atan angle to the direction of installation, on a bearing rib of theprofile element and/or to a resilient leg of the snap-in leg of thesnap-in recess.

Further advantages are attained when the snap-in recess is fitted withor subtends an engagement aperture which is entered at least in part bythe, respectively each, detent element. In this manner, when beinginserted into the snap-in recess, the water draining chamber's rib atonce engages the detent element which initially is thereby forced inwardaway from the rib, as a result of which the water draining chamber isinstalled easily, namely not requiring a large force. However, followingsnapping the rib into the snap-in recess, the detent element will engagethe rib. Furthermore said detent element constitutes a barb and, onaccount of its angular position, may only be forced to the side afterovercoming a substantial resistance. In spite of having been easilyinstalled, the water draining chamber no longer may be unintentionallydetached from the profile element.

Additional dimensional stability is assured by a design, whereby theconvex, resp. beaked edge, of the, resp. each, detent element restsagainst the water draining chamber when this chamber is in its installedposition. Said rib may be appropriately fitted with an indentation, anoffset or the like.

In addition or alternatively to the above design, the, respectivelyeach, detent element may be mounted at the water draining chamber's rib,the detent element being able to engage the profile element frictionallyand/or in geometrically interlocking manner. This approach as wellassures both easily and quickly installing the water draining chamberwithout thereby stressing the connection between the profile element andthe vehicle pane during said installation. At the same time the waterdraining chamber installed on the profile element is affixed so firmlythat the entire system easily withstands even larger loads whilesimultaneously allowing water draining chamber disassembly, withoutdamage to the profile element.

In this embodiment, the detent element acts as a barb for the profileelement, this barb significantly reducing the forces required forconnection but nevertheless firmly affixing the installed water drainingchamber. In this design the convex or beaked edge of the, respectivelyeach, detent element rests on the bearing rib or the resilient leg thatfor that purpose may be fitted with an indentation, an offset or thelike.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a bearing rib issubtended between the first and second segments of the profile elementand bears the minimum of one seal. Said seal assures sealing the surfacetransitions between the water draining chamber and the vehicle pane, thebearing rib per se constituting an elastic clamping and/or rest elementbetween the lower windshield edge and the water draining chamber's rib.

The profile element's snap-in recess is subtended by a resilient leg andthe bearing rib, the free end of said leg together with said ribbounding an engagement aperture. The resilient leg in principle may beL, U shaped or hook-like. The free end of the resilient leg moreover maybe fitted with an indentation within the snap-in recess to be engaged bythe water draining chamber's rib or the detent element.

Accordingly the water draining chamber's rib when in the locked positionalways is firmly enclosed by the outwardly projecting resilient leg, thebearing rib for the rib constituting a wedge. Simultaneously the bearingrib supports the seal, as a result of which the profile element not onlyseals the water draining chamber and the vehicle pane from each otherbut also connects them frictionally and in geometrically interlockingmanner Additional snap-in designs may be provided by an indentation atthe bearing rib within the snap-in recess, for instance for the waterdraining chamber's rib or the detent element.

The resp. each seal and/or the, resp. each, detent element preferablyare firmly bonded to the bearing rib. However all components also may beintegral. In this manner many designs are possible, namely by making theparticular components in one or more parts.

Preferably the seal and the detent element are made of a highlyresilient material whereas the segments of the profile element and thebearing rib are made of a stiffer but still elastic material. Theparticular components of the profile element as a whole however may bemade of a compound material, for instance in the form of a composite ofsoft and hard resilient materials. Illustratively the sealing lip may beexternally highly compliant outside while of low compliance inside; inparticular it may be hollow-hard inside and soft on the outside. Othervariations also apply. The detent element may be externally soft andharder but still flexible on the inside. Again its cross-section mayvary in shape, for instance being square/rectangular, oval or concave.The detent element's shape also may be individual, namely matching thewater draining chamber's rib, or being at least segment-wise tubular.The profile element's bearing rib may be substantially wedge-shaped,stepped, T-like or U-shaped. Other shapes also are conceivable andapplicable.

The first segment, the second segment and/or the bearing rib are fittedat least in part with a resilient stiffening insert. As a result theprofile element as a whole can withstand high loads and is permanentlydimensionally stable.

Manufacturing-wise, the first segment, the second segment and/or thebearing rib advantageously shall be extruded as a section. This featureis economical.

The entire sealing system is intended for vehicle panes, in particularfor the lower portion of a motor vehicle windshield. It consists of thevehicle pane, the profile element affixed to it, and the water drainingchamber to be affixed therein.

The profile element enables quickly and simply installing the waterdraining chamber without requiring applying a large force, as a resultof which the connection between the profile element and the vehicle paneshall not be stressed even when repeatedly installing the water drainingchamber. At the same time the water draining chamber when in itsinstalled position is kept in frictionally and geometricallyinterlocking manner in the profile element, resulting in a durable firmconnection which also permanently withstands substantial mechanical andthermal loads. Nevertheless the water draining chamber may be repeatedlyremoved for instance to replace a pollen filter, even though the removalforce is larger than that of installation.

Further features, particulars and advantages are defined in the claimsand are discussed in the illustrative embodiment modes below and withrespect to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic section of an installed sealing system with aprofile element of the invention,

FIG. 2 is a schematic sideview of the sealing system prior to waterdraining chamber installation, and

FIG. 3 is a schematic sideview of the sealing system of FIG. 1 duringthe joining procedure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The profile element denoted by the overall reference 10 in FIG. 1connects a vehicle pane 40 and a water draining chamber 50.Illustratively the vehicle pane 40 is motor vehicle windshield made of acomposite glass and integrated in an omitted vehicle body of car (alsoomitted). The water draining chamber 50 is usually made of plastic andby its upper edge 53 abuts the mostly curved lower edge 42 of thewindshield 40, and guides water running down said windshield to theoutside. Preferably the outer surface G of the water draining chamber 50is situated flush with the outer surface A of the windshield 40.

Preferably the profile element 10 is an extruded element of which thelength corresponds to the width of the windshield 40 respectively to thewidth of the water draining chamber. It consists of one or more plastics(thermoplastic or thermosetting) each of a suitable hardness, forinstance polypropylene (PP), polyvinylchloride (PVC),acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymers (ABS) or the like andcombinations thereof. However elastomers and rubber materials such asEPDM are also applicable. A first segment 20 of the profile element 10is fitted with a surface 22 for affixation to the vehicle pane 40. Adouble-sided adhesive tape 24 is deposited as the adhesive layer 24 onsaid surface 22 and illustratively is heat activated. The profileelement 10 together with the adhesive tape 24 is pressed along the paneedge 42 against the back side 44 of the vehicle pane 40 and bonds to it.

The profile element 10 further comprises a second segment 30 fitted witha snap-in recess 60 to allow detachably affixing the water drainingchamber 50 which is fitted on its back side with a snap-in, respectivelyprotruding rib 51 that can be affixed in frictional and/or geometricallyinterlocking manner in said snap-in recess 60. FIG. 1 shows that thewater draining chamber's rib 51 runs in a direction R1 which isapproximately perpendicular to the outer surface G of the water drainingchamber 50 respectively to the outer surface A of the front pane 40. Theconfiguration of the vehicle pane 40, profile element 10 and waterdraining chamber 50 is moreover selected in a manner that the resilientrib 51 of the water draining chamber 50 can be inserted in the directionR1 into the snap-in recess 60 of the profile element 10 and also beextracted in the opposite direction R2 from said profile element 10.

The snap-in recess 60 is bounded by a substantially L, U-shaped orhook-like resilient leg 62 and by a bearing rib 80, the latter beingsubtended by the first segment 20 and the second segment 30 of theprofile element 10. The free end 64 of the resilient leg 62 and thebearing rib 80 subtend an engagement aperture 61 for the rib 51 of thewater draining chamber 50.

The cross-section of the bearing rib 80 is approximately wedge-shapedand/or T-shaped. Between the pane's lower edge 42 and the inwardlyprotruding rib 51 of the water draining chamber 50, said bearing rib 80constitutes a clamping, respectively a support element supporting on itsface 91 the seal 90. Said seal 90 preferably is made of a soft-resilientmaterial, for instance a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), foam rubber oranother suitable material such as an elastomer or rubber. It rests insealing manner by means of a beaked edge 92 against the lower edge 42 ofthe vehicle pane 40 and—following installation of the water drainingchamber 50—it will be compressed between said pane's lower edge 42 andthe top edge 53 of the water draining chamber 50 in a way that the(unreferenced) outer surface of the seal 90 ends flush with the outersurface A of the pane 40 and with the outer surface G of the waterdraining chamber 50. As a result a smooth transition flush with thesurfaces of the vehicle pane 40 and the water draining chamber 50 isattained.

Preferably the seal 90 shall be firmly bonded to the bearing rib 80.However it may also be integral with it.

Preferably, in region of the lower pane edge 42, the bearing rib 80 andthe first segment 20 of the profile element 10 subtend a space 84, as aresult of which, when in the installed configuration, the bearing ribmay yield elastically when resting against the pane 40. This featureoffers more than durably good and reliable sealing. The bearing rib 80and the sealing lip 90 also may compensate tolerances between the pane40 and the water draining chamber 50.

At its free end 64 within the snap-in recess 60, the resilient leg 62 isfitted with an indentation 63. In the installed state of the waterdraining chamber 50, said indentation engages from behind a beaked edge52 at the rib 51 which thereby is always affixed in frictionally and/orgeometrically interlocking manner in the snap-in recess 60 of theprofile element 10. To improve the insertion of rib 51 into said snap-inrecess a beaked edge 52 and the free end 64 of the resilient leg 62 arefitted within (unreferenced) bevels. The bearing rib 80 also is fittedwith the snap-in recess 60 with an indentation 83 which shall bediscussed further below.

To assure installing the water draining chamber 50 both quickly andsimply—without thereby stressing the adhesive bond between the profileelement 10 and the vehicle pane 40—a rib-shaped detent element 70 isprovided within the snap-in recess 60 and runs in the longitudinaldirection of the profile element 10. Said detent element is at leastpartly elastically deforming, being made of a highly compliant materialsuch as a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), a foam rubber, or anotherappropriate material, and being designed in a manner that only a slightforce is required to insert the detent element 51 of the water drainingchamber 50 in the direction of assembly R1, whereas its extraction fromsaid snap-in recess in the opposite direction R2 requires acomparatively substantially larger force.

As shown in FIG. 1, the detent element 70 is configured within thesnap-in recess 60 at an angle α relative to the directions R1, R2 andhence subtends an acute angle with the rib 51 of the water drainingchamber 50. Said detent element furthermore enters at least in part theengagement aperture 61 of said recess and may engage, within thisrecess, the rib 51 of the water draining chamber 50 in frictionallyand/or geometrically interlocking manner, as a result of which, in theinstalled mode, said rib 51 is locked durably but detachably.

To reinforce the above feature, the detent element 70 is fitted at itsfree longitudinal edge 72 with a convex or a beaked edge 71 whereas therib 51 of the water draining chamber 50 is fitted with an associatedbeaked edge 52 respectively indentation. In this manner, when the waterdraining chamber 50 is installed, the free end of the detent element 70respectively its convex or beaked edge 71 can rest on said chamber's rib51 which also runs in the longitudinal direction of the profile element10, and consequently permanent firm locking has been achieved.

FIG. 1 further shows that the detent element 70 as well as the seal 90are affixed to the bearing rib 80, namely in the region of theindentation 83. Further said detent element comprises a tapered zone 74between the connecting zone 73 at the bearing rib 80 on one hand and onthe other the terminal convex or beaked edge 71, resulting in anapproximately concave cross-sectional surface. Said surface allows thedetent element 70 to get out of the way laterally or transversely to itslongitudinal direction as soon as the rib 51 of the water drainingchamber 50 has been inserted into the snap-in recess. To enhance thiseffect, the rib 51 is fitted with a bevel or flank 55 which is able topress the detent element 70 to the side. Depending on the designedmagnitude of the applied force used to insert the rib 51 into thesnap-in recess 60, the detent element 70 also may be cross-sectionally awedge or a rectangle/parallelepiped.

Both the detent element 70 and the seal 90 are preferably firmly bondedto the bearing rib 80. However they also may be integral with it.

FIG. 2 illustrates the sealing system constituted by the vehicle pane40, the profile element 10 affixed to said pane and the water drainingchamber 50 as yet uninstalled. Accordingly the water draining chamber'srib 50 has not yet entered and engaged said profile element's snap-inrecess 60.

On the other hand FIG. 3 makes it plain that, when being inserted intothe snap-in recess 60, the rib 51 of the water draining chamber 50displaces the detent element 70 entering said snap-in recess' engagementaperture 61 at an angle α to the direction of assembly R1. In theprocess the rib 51 by means of its bevel 55 laterally forces the detentelement 70 into the indentation 83 of the bearing rib 80, suchdisplacement being implemented relatively easily on account of the saiddetent element's selected cross-section as well as its selectedmaterial. The water draining chamber's rib 51 therefore is inserted atrelatively little effort into the profile element 10 of which theadhesive bond to the vehicle pane 40 is stressed very little. Additionalsupport of the profile element 10 relative to the vehicle body isunnecessary.

As soon as the water draining chamber 50 has reached its final position,the detent element 70 engages the indentation 54 at the rib 51, theconvex or beaked edge 71 of the detent element 70 resting infrictionally and/or geometrically interlocking manner on the rib 51.Accordingly the detent element 70 acts as a barb which affixes the waterdraining chamber 50 respectively its rib 51 against the profile element10 in frictionally and geometrically interlocking manner in the snap-inrecess 60 respectively at the profile element 10.

When the water draining chamber 50 must be released from its positionlocked to the profile element 10, the rib 51 must overcome theresistance of the barb 70 configured transversely to it within thesnap-in recess 60, however this time against a substantially largerresistance than encountered in the assembly procedure. Accordingly, thewater draining chamber 50 is always anchored securely in the profileelement 10, though, when necessary, and as described above, it may alsobe extracted and, as also described above, it may be reinstalled withoutresort to a substantial force.

A reinforcing insert 26, for instance a strip of aluminum or steel, ispreferably fitted into the first segment 20 of the profile element 10and into the resilient leg 62 of the second segment 30. This reinforcinginsert 26 may run as far as an inflection point 27 between the firstsegment 20 and the second segment 30 of the profile element, or, asshown, as far as into the resilient leg 62. Said insert by-and-largefollows the shape of the profile element 10, though it may be shorter orlonger than indicated. A reinforcing insert 81 within the bearing rib 80increases both the dimensional stability of the profile element 10 andthe bearing capacity of the rib 80.

An omitted row of perforations/holes furthermore may be fitted into thecentral region of the partial surfaces of the first segment 20. Two ormore rows of holes in the central surface portion of the first segment20 may also be used. In this manner a cement or the like in addition toan omitted bead of glue deposited on the first segment 20 of the profileelement 10 may advance as far as the back side 44 of the pane 40.

The present invention is not restricted to the above discussedembodiment modes and may be modified in many ways. Illustratively thedetent element may be configured at the bearing rib 80 instead of at theresilient leg 62. In that design the rib 51 of the water drainingchamber 50 would be in mirror-image form. However two detent elements 70also might be used, that would be mounted on the two sides of the rib51. In another variation, at least one detent element 70 is fitted onthe rib 51 of the water draining chamber 50. The convex or beaked edge71 of the, respectively each, detent element 70 then would rest againstthe profile element 10 in the case of the installed position of thewater draining chamber 50, as a result of which the detent elementengages frictionally and/or in geometrically interlocking manner theprofile element. Furthermore, one detent element 70 each may beconstituted at the profile element 10 and at the rib 51 of the waterdraining chamber 50.

In an embodiment, the detent element 70 in the form of a barb allowsinserting the rib 51 into the snap-in recess 60 without requiring aconsiderable force. On the other hand extracting the rib 51 out of thesnap-in direction 60 is more arduous, so that the water draining chamber50 is easily installed and firmly affixed and can be detached if needed.

In summary, the present invention relates to a profile element 10serving to connect a vehicle pane 40 to a water draining case 50, saidstructure 10 comprising a first segment 20 for connection to a vehiclepane 40 and a second segment 30 to detachably affix a water drainingchamber 50. The water draining chamber 50 is fitted with rib 51 whichcan be affixed in frictionally and/or geometrically interlocking mannerin the snap-in recess 60. At least one seal 90 may be inserted betweenthe lower edge 42 of the vehicle pane 40 and the upper edge 53 of thewater draining chamber 50. Said seal constitutes a substantially smoothand flush transition between the surfaces of the vehicle pane 40 and thewater draining chamber 50.

A detent element 70 for the rib 51 of the water draining chamber 50 isdesigned in a manner that it facilitates inserting the rib 51 into thesnap-in recess 60 of the profile element 10 while raising the resistanceto extracting the rib 51 out of said snap-in recess.

The detent element 70 is at least partly elastically deforming andsubtends an angle α with the direction of assembly, and as a result actsas a barb on the locked rib 51 of the water draining chamber 50. Thedetent element 70 enters at least segment-wise the engagement aperture61 of the snap-in recess 60 and rests by its convex or beaked edge 71 inits engaged state against the rib 51 of the water draining chamber 50 oragainst the profile element 10 which for that purposes are fitted withindentations 52, 54, 63, 83.

A bearing rib 80 is configured between the first and second segments 20and 30 respectively of the profile element 10 and may becross-sectionally wedge-shaped, L or U shaped. The minimum of one seal90 projects outward from said bearing rib 80.

The snap-in recess 60 is subtended by the bearing rib 80 and a resilientleg 62 which is cross-sectionally L, U or hook-shaped. The detentelement 70 and the seal 90 may be integral with the bearing rib 80 or befirmly bonded to it and in particular may include a high-compliance,deforming convex element.

The profile element 10 and/or the detent element 70 and/or the resilientleg 90 may be made of a combination of materials, for instance in theform of a composite component which is soft externally and hardinternally. The elasticity is enhanced by reinforcing inserts 26, 81.Appropriately the said contour structure's rest face 22 comprisescontact zones that are mutually offset in height. An adhesive layer maybe enclosed in between at the optionally perforated first segment 20,for instance a double-sided adhesive tape, rests in contact with itsopposite walls and also is optionally perforated.

A profile element 10 to connect a vehicle 40 with a water drainingchamber 50 comprises a first segment 20 which can be affixed to saidvehicle pane, and a second segment 30 which is fitted with a snap-inrecess 60 to allow detachably affixing said box. This water drainingchamber 50 is fitted with a rib 51 which is affixable in frictionallyand/or geometrically interlocking manner in the snap-in recess 60,further with at least one seal 60 subtending—in the installed positionof the water draining chamber—a substantially smooth and flushtransition zone between the vehicle pane 40 and the water drainingchamber 50. To assure both simple and rapid installation of the waterdraining chamber—without thereby stressing the connection between saidprofile element and vehicle pane, the invention provides at least onedetent element 70 designed in a manner that insertion of the rib 51 ofthe water draining chamber 50 into the snap-in recess 60 in a firstdirection R1 shall be facilitated but extraction of the rib 51 from thesnap-in recess 60 in the opposite direction R2 shall meet a largerresistance.

All features and advantages, including design details, spatialconfigurations and procedural steps, implicit in and explicit from theclaims, the specification and the appended drawings, may be construedbeing inventive per se or in arbitrary combinations.

LIST OF REFERENCES

-   A outer surface (of 40)-   G outer surface (of 50)-   R1 direction-   R2 direction-   K vehicle body-   α angle-   10 profile element-   20 first segment-   22 surface-   24 adhesive layer/tape-   26 reinforcing insert-   27 inflection point-   28 adhesive bead-   30 second segment-   40 vehicle pane-   42 lower pane edge-   44 back side-   50 water draining chamber-   51 rib-   52 beaked-edge/indentation-   53 upper edge-   54 beak-edge/indentation-   55 bevel/flank-   60 snap-in recess-   61 aperture-   62 resilient leg-   63 indentation-   64 free end-   70 detent element-   71 beaked edge-   72 free longitudinal edge-   73 connecting zone-   74 tapered zone-   80 bearing rib-   81 reinforcing insert-   82 hard/soft boundary-   83 indentation-   84 space-   90 sealing lip-   91 bevel-   92 beaked edge

What is claimed is:
 1. A profile element for connecting a vehicle paneto a water draining chamber, comprising: a bearing rib configured to bedisposed at a lower portion of the vehicle pane; a resilient legdisposed below the bearing rib and forming a U-shaped snap-in recesstherebetween, wherein, at an entrance into the snap-in recess, thebearing rib protrudes downward towards the resilient leg and theresilient leg protrudes upward towards the bearing rib so as to definean engagement aperture into the snap-in recess between an upper-mostpart of the protrusion of the resilient leg and a lower-most part of theprotrusion of the bearing rib; and a detent element disposed in thesnap-in recess past the engagement aperture in an insertion direction ofa rib of the water draining chamber.
 2. The profile element according toclaim 1, wherein the detent element projects into the snap-in recess atan acute angle relative to the insertion direction.
 3. The profileelement according to claim 1, wherein the detent element is rib-shapedand projects into the snap-in recess from one of the resilient leg andthe bearing rib.
 4. The profile element according to claim 3, whereinthe detent element projects from the bearing rib at a connecting zonethat is behind the protrusion of the bearing rib in the insertiondirection.
 5. The profile element according to claim 1, wherein thedetent element constitutes a barb.
 6. The profile element according toclaim 1, wherein the detent element extends from a connecting zone to afree longitudinal end, the detent element decreasing and then increasingin cross-section from the connecting zone to the free longitudinal endso as to form a tapered zone therebetween.
 7. The profile elementaccording to claim 1, wherein a material forming the detent element issofter than a material forming the bearing rib, the resilient leg andthe protrusions of the bearing rib and the resilient leg.
 8. The profileelement according to claim 1, wherein a free longitudinal edge of thedetent element has a convex or beaked edge that is configured to rest,in an installed state of the water draining chamber, on the rib of thewater draining chamber in at least one of a frictionally and ageometrically interlocking manner.
 9. The profile element according toclaim 8, wherein the convex or beaked edge of the detent element isconfigured to engage an indentation of the rib of the water drainingchamber in the geometrically interlocking manner in the installed stateof the water draining chamber.
 10. The profile element according toclaim 1, wherein a free end of the resilient leg includes an indentationconfigured to engage a beaked edge of the rib of the water drainingchamber from behind in the insertion direction in an installed state ofthe water draining chamber.
 11. The profile element according to claim1, wherein the detent element extends from a connecting zone to a freelongitudinal edge along a longitudinal axis of the detent element, thefree end being configured to be moved away from the longitudinal axisduring insertion of the rib of water draining chamber and the detentelement being configured to be compressed along its longitudinal axisduring extraction of the rib of the water draining chamber.
 12. Theprofile element according to claim 1, further comprising the waterdraining chamber, wherein the detent element projects into the snap-inrecess from the rib of the water draining chamber.
 13. The profileelement according to claim 1, further comprising at least one sealconfigured to be disposed at a lower portion of the vehicle pane. 14.The profile element according to claim 13, wherein the at least one sealis configured to form a substantially flat and flush transition betweensurfaces of the vehicle pane and surfaces of the water draining chamber.15. The profile element according to claim 13, wherein the bearing ribis formed from a stiffer material than the at least one seal.
 16. Aprofile element for connecting a vehicle pane to a water drainingchamber, comprising: a bearing rib configured to be disposed at a lowerportion of the vehicle pane; a resilient leg disposed below the bearingrib and forming a U-shaped snap-in recess therebetween which isconfigured to receive a rib of the water draining chamber in aninsertion direction through an engagement aperture, wherein theengagement aperture, viewed in the insertion direction, is delimited atan opening into the snap-in recess between a first visible andlower-most surface of the bearing rib and a first visible and upper-mostsurface of the resilient leg; and a detent element which projects at anacute angle relative to the insertion direction into the snap-in recessfrom a connecting zone disposed past the engagement aperture in theinsertion direction.
 17. The profile element according to claim 16,wherein the detent element projects into the snap-in recess from theconnecting zone to a free longitudinal end, the detent elementdecreasing and then increasing in cross-section from the connecting zoneto the free longitudinal end so as to form a tapered zone therebetween.18. The profile element according to claim 17, wherein the detentelement extends from the connecting zone to the free longitudinal edgealong a longitudinal axis of the detent element, the free end beingconfigured to be moved away from the longitudinal axis during insertionof the rib of water draining chamber and the detent element beingconfigured to be compressed along its longitudinal axis duringextraction of the rib of the water draining chamber.
 19. The profileelement according to claim 16, wherein the detent element constitutes abarb.
 20. The profile element according to claim 16, wherein the detentelement projects into the snap-in recess from one of the resilient legand the bearing rib.
 21. The profile element according to claim 16,wherein a material forming the detent element is softer than a materialforming the bearing rib, the resilient leg and the protrusions of thebearing rib and the resilient leg.
 22. The profile element according toclaim 16, wherein a free longitudinal edge of the detent element has aconvex or beaked edge that is configured to rest, in an installed stateof the water draining chamber, on the rib of the water draining chamberin at least one of a frictionally and a geometrically interlockingmanner.
 23. The profile element according to claim 22, wherein theconvex or beaked edge of the detent element is configured to engage anindentation of the rib of the water draining chamber in thegeometrically interlocking manner in the installed state of the waterdraining chamber.
 24. The profile element according to claim 16, whereina free end of the resilient leg includes an indentation configured toengage a beaked edge of the rib of the water draining chamber frombehind in the insertion direction in an installed state of the waterdraining chamber.
 25. The profile element according to claim 16, furthercomprising the water draining chamber, wherein the detent elementprojects into the snap-in recess from the rib of the water drainingchamber.
 26. The profile element according to claim 16, furthercomprising at least one seal configured to be disposed at a lowerportion of the vehicle pane.
 27. The profile element according to claim26, wherein the at least one seal is configured to form a substantiallyflat and flush transition between surfaces of the vehicle pane andsurfaces of the water draining chamber.
 28. The profile elementaccording to claim 27, wherein the bearing rib is formed from a stiffermaterial than the at least one seal.